bil

I think you basically are a cruise person, or you aren't.

Nothing about them appeals to me.

montgomail

I went on a two weeks cruise on the SS Uganda in the 70s. It was an educational trip for 1000 Northamptonshire school children although there were other passengers. I believe our fare was subsidised .... god knows what those paying full whack must have thought to a ship overrun with teenagers.

Dick Dasterdly

I hear that Carnival cruises are quite interesting.

http://allthatbugs.blogspot.com/2008...al-cruise.html


This one seemed quite lively as well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GY0kGYuGdFQ

fionamw

(nearly) SNAP.... 1972/3 (age fades the memory) SS Uganda Venice..various points including Izmir, Ephesus, Crete, Santorini, Malta, Naples... but we were from Somerset!

Never set foot on a ship again until 2002ish, Caribbean twice. Very nice but the herding of excursions will never be my thing. Thankfully OH saw the wisdom and we just headed off with a taxi most places, no more expensive and much more fun/etc. The only place we went on an organised trip we had one of our mega rows!!!!!!!!!!

fionamw

Oh, and Malaga? Well it would be nice to think the financially beneficial ripples from the cruise ships went other places than the more obvious Malaga city/Sevilla/Granada/whatevers.

Fredbargate

One of the Uganda's more " interesting " cruises after a refit in Gibraltar

http://www.panoramio.com/photo/9621142

jdr

I thought the same as you Bil, and thought I would hate it till I went on one and really enjoyed it.
You are free to do what you want, no need to go on excursions, just do what you want, get up when you want to, eat when you want to, etc.

montgomail

1973 for me and it was Scandinavia and Leningrad. I absolutely loved the fact that our teacher allowed us to explore on our own (as long as we were in groups of at least 3) - we had so much fun. Leningrad was a different matter as we had a police escort throughout the trip.

Yes I remember that well.

bil

I dunno, I look at it tho and so much that is integral to a cruise, I hate with a vengeance. I get badly seasick, I don't like being penned in, forced to socialise or be unable to get away from people, I get claustrophobic, and bored very easily.

You might be right, and I might enjoy it. I just see that as being very, very unlikely.

Dick Dasterdly

I quite liked the first few, but the novelty soon wore off and I got to thinking just how much better I could spend my time if I wasn't stuck on or tied to a cruise ship schedule.
As for the entertainment on board much the same thing applied and I found it absolutely cringeworthy after a while.
The typical conversation was even worse with everyone trying to impress everyone else with all the wonderful places they been and all the wonderful grub and vino they'd consumed, boring and cringeworthy in the extreme.

I much prefer the freedom of the open roads, not doing very much planning and never knowing what lies around the next corner or what weird or wonderful place I may end up spending the next night.

Total spontaneity, much more fascinating, much more fun than being wet nursed along with a thousand other mostly boring snobs on a cruise ship,.... but each to their own I suppose.

anonimouse

Pirates like cruise ships these days too

Dick Dasterdly

Just imagine if they could get a ransom from the families of every single one of two thousand affluent passengers on board, they'd really be in clover.

gill556

I can't believe I spent 65 years saying that I didn't fancy cruising. My daughter has been on eight and on the Queen Mary for New Year. Last October she persuaded us to go with them on a Caribbean cruise and we loved it. In September Just daughter and myself went Adriatic and did Venice, Croatia etc. and had a superb time and now hubby amd myself are abolut to book another for April. My biggest regrets are that I never have time to do everything I want to on board. I don't think much of the theatre shows but love the ice skating ones. I love the classical music which can be found in various venues or you can even join in Carnivals on the Royal promenades. something for everyone.

I love to see my 2 grandsons 16 and 18 years old, dressed in their dinner suits, confidently ordering meals in the silver service restaurants, being taught etiquette etc. However on the less formal cruises they go to their discos, swim, play all sorts of sport etc. and have a great time. We never book excursions but get a taxi or mini bus at the port and go where we want to go, some passengers don't go ashore ever and are quite content to stay on board. With a vast choice of restaurants, swimming pools, leisure activities etc. what would you find in a resort that you can't get on a cruise?

agoreira

Probably not a lot, but then there are other alternatives to resorts, I avoid them like the plague. You go to a resort if you want everything laid on for you in one place, very similar to cruising really, but even there if the mood takes you, you can take off into the mountains, are free to go wherever you want. The thought of getting all dressed up for dinner, doing silver service, would have me jumping ship!

My thoughts exactly, but as you say, each to their own, millions go every year and love it. Viva la diferencia! We've found ourselves in amongst some of the whistle stop tours of places like Sevilla, Granada etc, not for me.

jackytoo

People who go on cruises aren't snobs. many are doing a one-off celebration such as silver wedding, honeymoon etc. The ships tour are a rip-off. I always plan what we want to do in each port and depending on the route we hire a car and driver for the day or take a taxi. We even found a driver on the internet for Haiti and he was excellent. In Dominica we hired a guide and went hiking in the rainforest, he knew every plant and bird and was amazing. If you have a really busy day and don't feel like dressing up there is always a buffet or get room service to serve you a steak in front of your TV

Good compromise for me as I like seeing different places but hate living out of a suitcase

Having trouble getting OH on one this time, went Princess cruises last Dec. and we didn't like it, the ship felt very crowded. He wants to do a land based holiday.

Has to be good for the local economy in Málaga, if every passenger only spends a euro.